New York’s Dutch roots go back to 1609, when Henry Hudson declared the region the property of the Dutch East India Company. Originally known as New Amsterdam, Gotham's Dutch heritage is evident in place names like Brooklyn and Coney Island.

The Cosmos’ Dutch heritage begins with the greatest footballing talent to emerge from the Netherlands, Johan Cruyff. 40 years ago in the summer of 1977, Cruyff trained with the Cosmos. Speculation continued to build until he agreed to join the club for two international friendlies in 1978, one match at Giants Stadium, against the FIFA World All Stars on August 30th, and then a month later in London against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on September 26th. 

Like the protracted pursuit of Pelé, New York persisted in negotiations with Cruyff through the spring of 1979.  The season already well underway, the announcement he would join the Los Angeles Aztecs was a shock move, done with the Cosmos’ consent.  With a roster stocked with galácticos, New York enjoyed an embarrassment of riches.  For the good of the league, the Cosmos released Cruyff from his exclusivity agreement from the year prior, compensation of $600,000 from the Aztecs softening and sweetening the deal for New York.  He may only have played twice for the club, but Johan Cruyff will always be cherished as a member of the Cosmos Family.

Instead of Cruyff, in 1979 the Cosmos signed two of Cruyff’s teammates from the Dutch National Team: Johan Neeskens and Wim Rijsbergen. Wearing numbers 13 and 15, respectively, Neeskens and Rijsbergen made an immediate impact on Cosmos Country with their blend of tactical sophistication, technical brilliance and intense physicality. Both appeared in the 1974 and 1978 FIFA World Cup Finals, with Neeskens scoring the opening goal in the 2-1 loss to West Germany.

Neeskens played primarily holding midfield for the Cosmos, but would also feature as an attacking wing back at times, while Rijsbergen – perhaps the greatest man-marking defending in soccer history – played all four back positions and some midfield in his time with the club. Both players embodied the versatility and adaptability of the Dutch totaalvoetbal philosophy, proving themselves well suited to the Cosmos’ attacking style, regardless of assigned position.

Neeskens made 107 appearances in league play through the 1984 season, scoring 20 goals; Rijsbergen left in 1983, scoring 3 times in 102 matches.

Rijsbergen had a reputation among the Cosmos for being a student of the game, keeping meticulous notes on training methods and earning his coaching badges while still a player. So it is fitting he will serve as Head Coach for the New York Dutch Lions FC against the Cosmos B Team as part of a doubleheader at MCU Park this Friday.

The Dutch Lions will feature a remarkable mix of well-known Dutch talent. Once the most expensive goalkeeper in British football history, Sander Westerveld won the cup treble with Liverpool for the 2000-01 season. Real Sociedad, Portsmouth and Everton are just some of the clubs whose goal he defended in his storied career. Westerveld retired in 2013. A product of the fabled Ajax youth system, defensive midfielder Denny Landzaat’s career took him to Wigan Athletic, along with a number of Dutch clubs, before he retired in 2013. Tim de Cler and Sonny Silooy also featured for Ajax. Five former Feyenoord players make the Rotterdam club the best represented on a squad stocked with players boasting English Premier League, German Bundesliga and Spanish La Liga experience.  

The full squad of Eredivisie veterans expected to appear as the Dutch Lions:

• Sander Westerveld (Vitesse, Liverpool, Everton, Real Sociedad, 6 caps)
• John de Wolf (Feyenoord, Wolverhampton, 6 caps)
• Orlando Engelaar (PSV, Schalke 04, 17 caps)
• Jan Kromkamp (Villareal, Liverpool, PSV, 12 caps)
• Tim de Cler (Ajax, Feyenoord, 17 caps)
• Marcel Meeuwis (Borussia Mönchengladbach, Feyenoord)
• Denny Landzaat (Ajax, Feyenoord, Wigan Athletic, 38 caps)
• Sonny Silooy (Ajax, 25 caps)
• Romano Denneboom (FC Twente, Arminia Bielefeld, 1 cap)
• Martijn Meerdink (AZ, 1 cap)
• Thomas Verhaar (Sparta Rotterdam)
• Jeffrey Talan (Heerenveen, 8 caps)
• René van Dieren (Feyenoord)

The arrival of these Dutch Masters at Coney Island provides an ideal opportunity to celebrate the Cosmos who have worn the Oranje as well as the legacy of immigrants from the Netherlands who built this city into the world’s greatest. 

The Cosmos B will begin the double header on Friday, at 5:45 PM, as they take on the New York Dutch LIons at MCU Park. For Tickets Click Here. The action will continue as the New York Cosmos kick off against Puerto Rico FC at 7:30 PM. For Tickets, Click Here.